PortableApps dot com – 300+ free portable apps you can install to a USB key for safe on the go computing [Freeware]

There’s really no excuse anymore for having to put up with sub-standard software when you’re out and about, either traveling on business or pleasure. Not only are smartphones now delivering high quality useful software to our fingertips, but there are other options like online cloud storage which mean that our data should never be more than a click away as well.

But what if you don’t want to access the Internet, how can you carry on computing regardless?

PortableApps.com has been around a long time, but they’ve recently updated all of their offering, and it’s fabulous. The system offers over 300 of our ‘favorite‘ apps in portable versions, which means they can be run from any USB drive, key or other device which can be plugged into a PC.

The idea of having no-install software close to hand will be really appealing to those who travel from location to location and don’t like to carry around a laptop of their own, but yet need access to software and data on the go. And we’re not just talking spies or arch villains either.

Think about vacation visits to relatives, the frustration with logging-in on strange and vulnerable computers. It’s the perfect time to decline the sign on, avoid possible virus issues and just plug in your own flash drive with your browser, office suite, media player and even things like Skype on it.

The app manager part of the system is a tiny 6MB download, after which you can choose and install your fave programs from the long list. There’s just about everything you’ll need, ranging from image editors, word-processors and office suites to the popular VLC video player and Internet phone software.

Install is a breeze, the interface is designed not to intimidate newcomers and overall we can’t see why you would install this now, just in case. A great tool.

Nigel is the managing editor of the Red Ferret, as well as a freelance columnist for the Sunday Times newspaper in London. Loves tech and fancies himself as a bit of a futurist, but then don’t we all?

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